Cynics noted that his parents had been married only seven months. His
father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a fláneur.

As for Winston's mama, Jennie Jerome, she was that peculiarly erotic
species, an American. Brooklyn-born Jennie had already caught the
Prince of Wales' cruising eye. As Randolph reached for political power,
the Princeand other menreached for Jennie. Yet when it became
apparent that Randolph had contracted syphilis, the prodigious Jen nie
abandoned her great love (an Austrian diplomat) to take her mad hus...